Selfridge Air Base Honors 26-Year-Old Pilot Killed in First Plane Crash

Lt. Thomas Etholen Selfridge was 26 years old when he died on Sept. 17, 1908, making him the first person killed in an airplane crash. His death occurred during a test flight at Fort Myer, a site that would later become Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

Selfridge, who graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1903, was an early advocate for using aircraft in warfare. He had arranged a meeting with Orville Wright to explore the military potential of the Wright Model A.

On the day of the crash, Wright piloted the Military Flyer, a modified version of the Model A, with Selfridge as passenger. The aircraft was carrying more weight than it had ever borne before. The two men circled the base several times before a mechanical error occurred.

The right-hand propeller broke and struck a wire, causing the plane to lose control. Wright attempted to glide the craft down, but it hit the ground nose-first. The impact cracked Selfridge’s skull, and he died within hours. Wright suffered severe injuries and was hospitalized for weeks.

Selfridge’s legacy is commemorated at several locations. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A gate between Arlington and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall is named the Selfridge Gate, and a memorial stands at West Point Cemetery.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force in Ohio displays surviving pieces of the crashed aircraft. These artifacts serve as a physical record of the accident that marked the beginning of military aviation history.

Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan takes its name from the lieutenant. The base continues to operate as a key facility for the Air National Guard, preserving the memory of the young officer who helped shape the role of aircraft in combat.